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Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008
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    T-Mobile stores' owner wanted for questioning by authorities


    Police issued an arrest warrant Saturday for the owner of three Columbia County cell phone stores that were raided by officials Friday.


    Christopher Bettis, 28, had been wanted for questioning in connection with raids at his T-Mobile stores, where authorities say they discovered nearly 300 suspected counterfeit items including designer handbags, wallets, sunglasses and other merchandise.


    Mr. Bettis faces a charge of insurance fraud and two counts of counterfeit trademark violations. He was expected to be traveling home to Evans from Virginia, but as of Saturday he had not contacted police.

    Police look into death of woman at motel

    Authorities on Saturday said they were investigating the death of a woman who collapsed in a Thomson motel room late Friday.

    Thomson Police Investigator Lt. Scott Whittle identified the woman as 23-year-old LaShonda Williams, who lived in the 600 block of Ellington Avenue in Thomson. Lt. Whittle said medical personnel and officers found Ms. Williams unresponsive at 11:36 p.m. at Knox Terrace Motel.

    "We know that she had some medical problems, but we don't know if that's what caused her death," Lt. Whittle said. "Right now, we're treating this case only as a death investigation."

    An autopsy was performed Saturday at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Augusta, according to McDuffie County Deputy Coroner Sammy Purvis. Preliminary findings revealed "no foul play," Mr. Purvis said.

    He has requested toxicology tests be performed, and results should be ready in six to eight weeks.

    Mom, boyfriend face child cruelty charge

    An Augusta mother and her boyfriend have been arrested on a child cruelty charge.

    Authorities charged Letesia Deshawnda McGahee, 27, with second-degree child cruelty Friday. Her boyfriend, Rico Williams, 32, was charged with first-degree child cruelty.

    Richmond County officers were sent to A Child's World day care on Wrightsboro Road on Friday after a report of a 4-year-old boy showing signs of abuse.

    Mr. Williams and Ms. McGahee remained in the Richmond County jail Saturday night.

    Dearing family loses home to morning fire

    An early morning house fire displaced a McDuffie County family Saturday, but the blaze caused no injuries.

    McDuffie County Fire Department officials were dispatched to 3795 Culbreth Road in Dearing about 2 a.m. Saturday, Assistant Fire Chief Stephen Sewell said. The fire began in the attic of the two-story home, which was destroyed, he said. The cause was unknown Saturday.

    Augusta KFC robbed

    An Augusta restaurant was robbed Saturday night, according to a Richmond County dispatcher.

    The incident at the KFC on Deans Bridge Road occurred at 7:42 p.m. Saturday, the dispatcher said.

    No other details were immediately available late Saturday.

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    pro@this
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    pro@this 02/03/08 - 07:17 am
    0
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    Okay, it's too early in the

    Okay, it's too early in the morning to start cursing, and it's Sunday!

    patriciathomas
    31
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    patriciathomas 02/03/08 - 07:48 am
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    Child abuse stories are

    Child abuse stories are always the most horrible. Even the ones without a lot of details. Too many of the innocents are without protection.

    Just me 2
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    Just me 2 02/03/08 - 09:21 am
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    Yes, you are right. But the

    Yes, you are right. But the sad part is, they will get a little bit of
    counseling and will most likely get the child back and a year or so later it will be in the news again and will be worse.

    Rose
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    Rose 02/03/08 - 11:12 am
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    That is awful. that poor

    That is awful. that poor little boy. the very one who is suppose to love and protect him hurt him, and allowed that man to hurt him. I would be done busted that man up side his head so hard, he would never see straight again.

    tybee93
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    tybee93 02/03/08 - 12:01 pm
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    amen rose.....

    amen rose.....

    janealvarez
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    janealvarez 02/03/08 - 01:55 pm
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    Thank you for reporting on

    Thank you for reporting on child abuse. I prefer to call it child cruelty. When you consider how much support the public contributes to animal cruelty, it is possible that we have overused the term child abuse and the public has become settled in a comfort zone and is somewhat desensitized when it comes to our children. You are the voice for these small children. For if you do not, the next time you hear about him might very well be in the obituary. Please continue to write about this epidemic.

    I am a retired crime analyst with over 20 years in law enforcement. I have documented hundreds of cases of child abuse where children have been injured and often killed. Considering the statistics, not much has changed over the years and if more people knew what really happened to abused children they would quit making excuses for people who hurt or kill children. All these helpless children can do is lie there and take it – think about that folks. Child abuse is a crime and should be treated as the horrific crime it really is.
    www.Janealvarez.com www.walloftears.org

    Rose
    16
    Points
    Rose 02/03/08 - 03:36 pm
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    janealvarez, I saved those

    janealvarez, I saved those two sites.I will look at them tonight. It breaks my heart to hear of children abused and cruelty done to them.People always take up for them, and I don't understand them. When the story of the woman in Augusta who killed her 2 kids in the Circle K was on here, I cried for days. I dreamed all night about those kids. Then people came out of the woodwork defending her actions. No story on here has affected me more than that one.

    Rose
    16
    Points
    Rose 02/03/08 - 03:43 pm
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    Animal cruelty leads to

    Animal cruelty leads to cruelty to children and others. I believe that people who are cruel to animals become murderers and controling monsters.

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